April 10 marked the start of the international cruise season at the Port of Quebec, highlighted by the arrival of the MSC Poesia of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The President and CEO of the Port, Mario Girard, presented Captain Roberto Leotta with the medal traditionally offered to the first cruise ship of the year to dock at the Port.
The visit from MSC Poesia heralds the start of a promising season which will extend over a historically long period, from April 10 to October 29. Although the fall months remain the busiest, the relatively early launch of the 2024 season, combined with the approach of winter cruises, demonstrates a strong commitment to further developing the season outside of the peak autumnal traffic.
With a forecast of approximately 145 000 passengers, the Port of Quebec is preparing to welcome an exceptional cruise season. 118 ships are expected to call, of which 28 will be dedicated to embarkation and disembarkation operations for most of the world’s major cruise lines. The announcement of the arrival of nine new ships in the Port for this cruise season is also generating enthusiasm within the tourism industry.
2023 season recap:
The 2023 cruise season at the Port of Quebec was marked by a series of achievements. First of all, the Port announced the arrival of the first winter cruises with the ship Commandant Charcot in February 2025, thus opening new perspectives for international cruise lines. In addition, Quebec had the honor of hosting the Cruise Canada New England Symposium, during which Quebec City won the 2023 Porthole Cruise and Travel Choice Award for the best cruise destination in Canada and New England. This season was also special with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Holland America Line, a milestone in the history of the cruise industry. The arrival of the MSC Explora 1 added a touch of innovation to the season while the signing of the partnership with the MT Lab opened new possibilities for sustainable development in the field.
Additionally, this season was the longest in the Port’s history, providing travelers with an extended window to explore beautiful Quebec City and its surrounding areas. With a record embarkation-disembarkation season and an impressive number of 154 288 cruise passengers, the 2023 season will be remembered as a period of success for the Port of Quebec and its partners in the tourism industry.
(Image from Lora)
